Exercising machine



Aug. 27, 1946. v G. BERGFORS 2,406,344`

EXERCISING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1942 :s sheetssmet s lq-El' I I v 3030 c" A lNvEN-roR@ l BY 4 ATTORNEYS away,

Patented Aug. 27, 1946 EXERCISING MACHINE Gordon Bergfors, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Exercycle Corporation, New York, N. Y.a corporation ofNew York Application April 24, 1942, Serial No. 440,294

15 Claims. l

The present invention is concerned with exercising machines Yof the typethat impart to the Yuser the combined motion of-a bicycle and a rowvorif desired, actively without the resort to the motor.

Another object is to provide a mechanism'of the above type involving aminimum number of yrugged moving parts, and devoidof any springs,

andthe operative mechanism of whichis enclosed and concealed and not aptto injure theguser.

Another object is to provide a mechanismof the above type by which thehandle movement is performed without jolts or sudden changes ofdirection, but is retarded near the extremity of' 'each stroke thereoffor gentle, yet effective exercise.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one or more of variouspossible embodiments of the several features of the invention, Fig. l isa perspective view of the machine,v Fig. '2 is a View thereof inlongitudinalwcrosssection and on a larger scale with partsbroken Fig. 3is a view of the gear box with the cover removed and taken on` line 3-3of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4 is a View in transverse cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig.2, f

Fig. 5 is a View in transverse crossfsection taken on line 5-5 of Fig.2, i i

Fig. 6 is a sectional detatil view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Fig.. '1 is a sectional detail view taken on line I-l of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view on a larger scale showing one of thecross-braces and motor suD- port, and

Fig.` 9 is a transverse sectional viewtakenon line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Referring now'to the drawings, the exercising -machine comprisesa' pairof front'legs Il! made up of hollow 'tubing telescoped into foot-pieces'I I connected by'a cross brace bar I2 and a like'pair of rear legs' Ill.The legs'in combination with a` .casing C whichfinterven'es therebetweenand is .in parallel aligned pairs through corresponding 2 apertures inthe casing. For mounting the casing upon the legs I0, I0', sheet metalcross braces are enclosed within the casing, through which the tubestock leg ends extend and to which they are Welded. kThe cross-brace I5at the forward end of the casing preferably lforms the frontY wallthereof, to which the side walls I6 of the casing are welded at I 'I.The brace has wings I8'extending along the side walls of the casing andinturned flanges I9, through which theextremities of the tube legs I3extend and to which they are welded vat 20.

The cross brace 2l `near the rear of the case comprises` a sheetmetalstructure havingra bottom plate 22, upstanding wings 23 extending acrossthe casing,y having outturned end anges r241 and downturned bottomflanges 25 welded or `otherwise attached to the inner walls ofthe-casing-C. 'I'he horizontally extending upper endsy I4 `oftherrearlegs I0 extend-through aperturesZB 5in the end wall of'thecasing and through` corresponding apertures 21 in the` wings 23 of theVcross-brace 2| at' which they are welded in place.

, The casing C-is madeof two pieces,including the box member alreadydescribedwhich has 1an inturned rim 28 somewhat above the tubularsupvport rods I3, I4 and a cover piece C'. AThat cover piece is providedat its forward and rear ends resurfaces which rest upon the upperconvexities'of the horizontal support legends I3, I4, the `forward yfootpiecesv 29 vintervening between the front of the casingand the liiangesI9 of the frontubra'ce member and the rear footpieces 39 interveningbetween the rear walland the cross brace 2l.

To secure the-cover C' of the casing in'place, correspondingcrosschannel'bars 32 which `have notches 33 for the. correspondingtubular leg members vare lodged thereunder, and bolts 34 throughsaid-channel bar and the respective foot pieces 29, 39 clamp the casingcover piece -C against said tubular supports. The cover is desirablyreinforced by corrugations 35 and its `lower rim vis telescoped slightlyWithin the rimf28 of the box portion of the casing,l so that the casing,appears to be completely closed.

The casing mounts a, seai-l 36 inthe character of a bicycle seat,theoblique rod support '31 yofwhich extends into a corresponding neck38,*,unitaryk with the `cover piece C ofthe casing-and isr adjustablyand frictionally affixed thereingby `a cross bolt 39. The framealsocarriesva handle member 4l! of the typeused ongiiicycles,` the of thecasing. n l

Near the front and lower part of the casing standard 4| of which isclamped by a cross bolt 42 into a sleeve carrier 43 pivoted at 44 in theupperland forward end of the cover piece C', for

the back and forth movement about its pivot by action presently to bedescribed.

For convenience of construction and neatness of appearance` .the ,handlesupport bar. sleeve 4,3

has an outwardly curved front wall 53 unitary with and at the lower endof said sleeve, and connected tothe sleeve `by unitary wings 54 Lofarcuate contour. The curved enlargement 55 thus formed extends withsmall clearance through a corresponding slot 56 inthe upper wa are apair of bicycle pedals 45 extending from opposi-te sides of thecasingYfand-faixed toA an axle 46 transversely of the casing.

The pedals 45 and the pivoted handle 4I`4`3 are interconnected by *atransmission for movingtlr'e ulatter 'back and forth in the Joperationof "thepe'd'als That `transmission is 'largelyfcon- "tainediinagear'boxV 41 Lwithintheca'sing `"The gearbox is Afirm-ly clarnpe'dj'invplace between the 'side walls of casi-ng C by ymeans 4`v'of 'screws 48kfextemng *through -sleeves '49 -@retained -under compression betweenthe respective casing Vand gear 1boxside walls, and threaded into ithegear box casting. rIphe ftransmissionfincludes algear v50 keyed to L'thepedalaxle -"4B 'and f meshing with A'a "largerspurfgear Ar5"| keyed -'to`counter-'shaft 52;

Countershaft 52 in the gear box has a short crank `arm f51' keyed'to-the outer 'exposed 'lend "'theredf. "Ther crank Iarfnn iisr connected7with lrevspeci," tothe handle suppots'leevelllvlby .means 'with a,unitary 'bearing #eye fSD' interposed ibeof the inventionfromiits'broaderaspectitlispre ferred toprovideia motor drivenapparatus.To this `end 'a ifractional horse-'power' lelectric motor M :of frcin 5%to 2P. fis 'desirably :mounted '-und'enthe :casing .C fin: a',:corresponding :niche 62 '.Theioperation tproceeds substantiallyfas-"fly alows: "fllheruser, seated' upon the seat 36 with his -eet -inthe 5 medals-45; throws' the rswitch "and places his h'andsonthehazidlebarg The motor `M .throughth worm 65 -andivvorrnWheel l66idriv'esthe axlert'46 VfandV with it 'rth'e pedals `45. Throughlfthek'spur gearsV 50 fand`5`l, power is "transmitted from axle'T4`S"`to 'operate the'handle meniberlll. `Th`is operation occursl'byrotation cf the crank farm "51 whichby way of linkfy 58 --causes the'handle bar to loscillate forwardand '.:end tof :the Y*crank zarm.

backward by power operation. Desirably, th'e gear reduction of spurgears 50 and 5l istwo to one, so that the handle bar will perform acomplete stroke in one direction, forward or backward, for each completeturn of the pedal cranks.

It will be seen that in the rotary movement of the ,short `,crank 51,the major stroke of handle `movement Whether forward .or backward, willoccur rapidly during the `substantially upward or downward movement ofthe crank arm. The `displacement of the handle member will be rela-Ltively slow at the ends of its stroke, duringthe substantiallyhorizontal movement of the outer It follows that in the .continuous.operation of the pedals, the oscilla-l tory or rocking movement of thehandle will occur `Without 'jolt or shock to the user. Each strokebegins and ends gently, but during the main length of the stroke thetension or compression upon the extended arms of the user is "vigorous,with corresponding stress upon -the all of the advantages of:muscularactionderived Y,

'both inthe oper-ations of bi'cycling'andfofrowing.

The simplicity vofthe 4'device willfibe' manifest. 'It Wil-l'beseenfthat.ish'e 'few moving partslarekall enclosedin the casing C,"includingeveryilink and moving bearing, so that in operation, only the pedals andther handle `support rbar appear. to 35 move and the movement o'fsaidbaroc'curs about ra x'bearing vconcealed in casi-ng `C. vThe constructionyvvhenfonceflubricated,:operateswithout noise or shock. Itiiis ruggedandrhas vno= spring-sier other'breakable parts. f

In 'the motor driven embodiment, `action lisimparted i Sto the muscles`:Without Lairmative fefort onfthe part of'the'user, so that fthefull'measure Y of exercise -i-s :obtained 'without strain upont-heheartf Moreover, fthe fixed 'seat lends stability to Ythe lconstructionthat rendersiits use safe :and comfortable even to .elderly lorltimo'rous '.persons.

Theimachin'efcouldbe nsedwithout the electric lmotor, `or 'withoutclosing"they switch thereof, to Vvcompel .the vuser 'to ido:afl'rmative-work, and Lthe Y operation of the pedals and handle barsgives-'ef- Ifective exerciselot activesratherrthanepass'ivetype. A smany changes couldribe :made'ini: the yabove embodiments of thisinvention could rbe made "without.'departingtfrom thevscope aof'theclaims,

it is intended that allnnatter -contained .inithe f vabove description,or shown: 'in-the; accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted asillustrativeand not inalimitingsens'e.v

Having thus described my invention, lwhat `I claim` as :new and'desireftoisecuresby LettersPatventofzthe UnitedStates-is: f' 1. Anexercising machine, comprisingfa frame xlnavingea seat mounted thereon,4a handle #member, a carrying bar therefor pivotedtogsaid-frame, pedals,:anv axle carrying :the-same, andra 'ttransfand yazshort crank fortheIother.endfof.'said flink operated from said axlef=andfimpartingisubstan- "tially`har1non'ic motion to saidhandle member.

2. Anf'exercisingsmachine, comprising ajframe,

including'a casing, agseatrrafxed tosaid-jcasing, v

a rhandle 'member and a Jcarrying `)bar Atherefor vpivotedV nearfthelower end thereof Aiso-" saidfcasing, a pair of pedals -having an axlethrough said casing, a gear box from whichV said axleprotrudes,. a crankexposed on said gear box, a gear reduction 'in said box interveningvbetween said axle and said crank, and a transmission linkbetween saidcrank and said carrying bar` and hav-- including a. casing, a seat axedto said casing.

ja handle member having a carryingbar pivoted near its lower end tosaidcasing, pedals laterally fof said casing having an axle transverselythrough said casing, an electric motor carried by said casing, a gearbox enclosing a worm driven from said motor, a worm wheel meshingtherewith, a gear reduction in said gear box, a crank arm driven fromand. exposed at the outside of said gear box and within said casing, anda link connecting Isaid crank to the base end oi said pivoted carryingbar.

4. An exercising machine comprising a casing having support legsprotruding therefrom, an electric motor 4under said casing, a gear boxwithin said casing, an axle transversely of said gear box having pedalsexposed a-t the outer ends thereof and exposed laterally of said casing,a transmission shaft between said motor and said axle, a countershaft insaid gear box, having a short crank arm exposed at one side thereof, aseat aiixed to said casing, a handle member having a carrying barpivoted to said casing and a link for imparting 'substantially harmonicmovement to said handle member, said link ccnnecting said crank to saidsupport bar at a point thereof near the pivot mount thereof.

5. An exercising machine comprising a casing having front and rear legs,a motor at the lower rear part of the casing, a gear box in front ofsaid motor, a seat rising from the rear end of the upper part 0f saidcasing, a handle member having a support bar pivoted in said casing, apair of pedals having an axle through Isaid gear box and said casing, aspur gear reduction within said box operated in unison with saidV axle,a short crank on the output end of said reduction and a link pivotallymounted upon said crank and pivoted to said support bar, near the pivotmount of the latter.

6. An exercising machine comprising a frame, including a casing having agear box therein, enclosing Speed reducing gearing, a motor upon saidframe and driving .said gearing, an axle through said box and saidcasing and driven by said motor, pedal-S on the ends of said axle, acounter shaft through said box and having a crank exposed on the endthereof and within said casing, a iixed seat upon said frame, a handlemember having a support baz` pivoted to said casing and a linkconnecting said crank to a portion of said support bar contiguous to thepivot support of the latter, said shafts and axle being enclosed withinsaid casing, said support bar having a hollow enlargement at the lowerend thereof accommodating the upper pivoted end of said link.

'7. An exercising machine, comprising a support frame including acasing, a motor under said casing, a transmission box in said casingincluding reduction gearing driven by said motor and driven membersactuated therefrom and engaged by parts of the body ofthe user, saiddriven members including pedals laterally of said casing and operatedfrom said transmission box anda handle bar pivoted tosaid casing andOscillated from'the reduction gearing.

8. An exercising machine comprising a support frame, including a casinghaving a base portion and a cover piece ailxedthereto, aimotor undersaid easing, pedals extending through the'base portion of said casingy aseat aliixed to said cover piece, a handle bar pivotedtosaid coverpiece, a transmission in said casing including reduction/gearing drivenby said motor, Vsaid reduction gearing driving said pedals andincluding'means for causing said handle bar t'o oscillate about itspivot.

9. An exercising machine comprising a support frame including a legstructure of tube stock, extending horizontally at the upper partthereof, a support casing for the operative parts of the mechanism, saidcasing being mounted upon the horizontal portions of said legs andrigidlyisecured thereto, pedals extending laterally ofisaid casing, aworm wheel moving with said pedals, a worm meshing therewith, a spurgear transmission operated from said worm Wheel, a handle member havinga support bar pivoted to said casing, a crank upon the output end ofsaid spur gear transmission and a link connecting said crank to saidsupport bar for pivotal backward and forward movement of said handlemember, while the pedals are being operated.'

10. An exercising machine of the type comprising support legs of tubestock, operating structure carried thereby, including a pair of pedalsextending from the sides thereof, a xed seat and a handle member havinga pivoted support bar, a closed casing structure supporting said pedalmembers, said seat and said handle support bar, the ends of said tubestock legs extending into said casing and the latter being clamped withrespect thereto, said casing having enclosed therein transmissiongearing interlinking the pedal cranks with the pivoted handle supportbar.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 in which an electric motor ismounted under the casing and drives the transmission to both said pedalcranks and said handle bar.

12. In an exercising machine, front legs and rear legs, -a combinedtransmission and support casing comprising a lower box, metalcross-pieces near the ends thereof, said legs having horizontal upperportions extending across and through said metal cross-pieces and aixedthereto, said casing having a cover-piece resting upon said horizontalportions and bolted with respect to said legs, a seat mounted upon saidcover piece, a handle support bar extending into and pivoted near itslower end to the upper part of said cover piece, pedal cranks extendingfrom the sides of said box and a transmission within said boxinterlinking said pedals and said pivoted handle support bar.

13. In an exercising machine, front legs and rear legs, a combinedtransmission and support casing comprising a lower box, metalcross-pieces near the ends thereof, said legs having horizontal upperportions extending across and through said metal cross-pieces andaffixed thereto, a complementary cover-piece resting upon saidhorizontal portions and bolted with respect thereto, a seat mounted uponsaid cover piece, a handle support bar extending into and pivoted nearits 4, lower end to the upper part of said cover piece,

pedal cranks protruding from then sides of said box and a transmissionwithin said box interlinking said pedals and said pivoted handle supportbar, one of said cross-pieces having an f1.7 -electricmotor lfaixed:thereunder and rlodged in a corresponding -n-iche -in'ethe -lower part.of said box rand a ,LWorm-drvefinsaid boxconnectinggsaid :motor tothettransmissicn.

14. in lan exercising machine, -a casing, legs supporting the isame,aseat supported upon said casing rand a handle member `having asupportibarjpivoted .near the lower VVend lthereof to `the rupper part `o'fsaid casing,I agear box within said :casingspaoed fromthe side wallsthereoffspacer ysl'eeJ/es vin'i'erveningbetweenithe sidesof said cas ingand said box, Jscrews through `vsaid ,fspacer sleeves afxing said box insaid easing, saidgear viloxliaving za worm wheel therein, said V wormu.wheelehem/Ting anfaxle'zextendingthrough the side walls ofsaid fcasing, Y pedals :u pon -the #ends -of said -ing-With said Worm Wheel,'said gear :box ink',cludinga 'pairnf spur gears driven .from :said

worm WheeL-a crankarm on-the output end of .ax1.e,.saidigearboxhaving aWorm therein Ameshvlsaidgear `box,.anc1 a ,link connecting said. crankarmfto said handle barsu-pport :at @peint near the pivot mount thereof.f A

15. An exercising machine comprising apair -of front legs and a pairofrearlegsof tubestok,

ypiece in place, .said .means V`comprising channel bar cross .membersunder the respective leg spor tions andscrews through thefQot piecesclamping the latter againstthe legvportions. Y GORDON BERGFORS.l

